China Centre is steadily building connections with local communities. The Centre has organized a variety of outreach activities in collaboration local institutions. Since April of 2018, teachers from PFSTA has been giving workshops and public lectures in Suzhou and in surrounding areas through the local connections of the China Centre. In particular, Dr. Khaled Azzam and Mrs. Delfina Bottesini gave a series of public lectures and workshops at Suzhou Museum and Suzhou Pingtan School on the topic of the Order of Nature. Dr. David Cranswick offered hands-on colour pigments workshops for the local students in School of The Palace Museum in Suzhou and Suzhou Art and Design Technology Institute.

In 2018-19, China Centre is offering Foundation Courses in Traditional Arts in Suzhou. Throughout the programme, China Centre will hold local outreach activities to facilitate conversations between PFSTA and local traditional art and craft experts and communities alike for the better understanding of our mutual and perspective cultural heritage.On September 16th of 2018, in the inauguration ceremony of the PFSTA China Centre, the vice director of the Suzhou Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, Press and Publication, Mr. Xu Chunhong, and the director of PFSTA, Dr. Khaled Azzam, signed a Cooperation Agreement. Through China Centre, PFSTA will cooperate with local public institutions in the areas of traditional craftsmanship, creative culture and intangible heritage through a variety of programs. 

In addition, China Centre is building academic connections with the Art School of Soochow University and Suzhou Art and Design Technology Institute.